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V 



THE ORIGIN OF THE GREAT NAME OF 
THE ADIRONDACKS. 




pOLLOWING the Hudson river from Albany up to its source you go to 
Fort Edward, Sandy Hill, Glens Falls, Luzerne, North Creek and 
1^ Newcomb and at the last named place, a short distance above the bridge 
crossing, there are two streams or branches of the Hudson, one to the 
left the other to the right. The one to the right is the main branch. 
About seven miles up this stream you come to what is called Tahawus 
where the company, which I will mention hereafter, built a dam. Five miles 
above the dam is Lake Sanford, while just below the lake is the east and main 
branch of the river. This stream has its source at Mount Tahawus or Mount 
Marcy, 5,200 feet above the sea. There are several streams before you reach 
Mount Marcy or the Avalanche lake stream, named after an avalanche that 
took part of the mountain side with it into the lake. Just below this lake is 
where the dam was built to turn the water into the west branch for manufac- 
turing purposes. From Sanford lake up the river three miles you come to 
LaKC Henderson, named after the late David Henderson, of Jersey City. 
About half way between these two iakes is the deposit of iron and steel oVe 
found by the Indians. They gave it the name of Adirondack and afterwards 
it became the property of the Akirondack Iron company. Between the bold 
mountain peaks stands the deserted village known as the Old Adirondack vil- 
lage, whose site was selected by Archibald Mclntyre, of Albany, and Judge 
McMartin, of Broadalbin. The names of these gentlemen will frequently ap- 
pear in this description of the Adirondacks. There is where the company 
started a wooden frame railroad, three miles of which they built, and then 
abandoned it as they found it was a poor investment. The road was projected 
by Israel Johnson and they intended to build it to the state road leading from 
Glens Falls to Elizabethtown. This was the starting point of all the Adiron- 
dack names. In the year 1822, the Indians traveling through the wilderness 
from Lake George to Keene, following the course of the streams and rivers , 
discovered a large vein of ore running across the North river where the old 
deserted village now stands. The Indians on their way through to Keene b}^ 



^\ ay of the Indian pass, or upon their arrival at Keene, found a forge owned 
In^ Archibald Mclntyre in full blast makinir iron. Looking at the ore and 
then at the iron they saw how it was converted from the raw material into iron. 
They concluded to inform Mr. Mclntyre of their discovery of an ore bed di- 
rectly across the Hudson, and tliey gave such glowing descriptions of it that 
Mr. Mclntyre was induced to return with them and examine the ore and its 
magnitude and location. Arriving at the place he found the bed of ore, upon 
extimination, was as valuable as the Indians had represented, and paying them 
for their services he dismissed them. Steps were immediately taken to secure 
the land and Mr. Mclntyre having been comptroller of the state was conver- 
sant with wihl lands and therefore knew how to locate. This was done by 
buying two townships, 46 and 47, Totton and Crossfields purchase, Essex 
county, New York. The ore at Keene not being valuable, Mr. Mclntyre 
abandoned that enterprise and associating with him Judge McMartiu, of Broad- 
albin, commenced operations in 1826 at this new field by erecting a forge and 
building suitable for separating ore, and also erected a log building to accommo- 
date their men. This ore was'worked for several years when Judge McMartin 
died, and after that a new firm was organized, Mr. Mclntyre associating with 
him David Henderson, of Jersey City, and Archibald Robinson, of Philadel- 
phia. The new firm went to work with great zeal, built fires and hammers, 
and made iron after the primitive method, using a forge and charcoal for 
smelting the ore and settling the melted ore in the bottom of the forge 
hearth into a loop. This loop was then taken out, put under a large hammer 
called a shingling hammer, and after being shingled into a loop it was heated 
again and put under a smaller hammer when it was drawm out into bar iron. 

They labored with the forge a few years and finding the ore very good and 
their forge too slow a process, they concluded to build a furnace. David Hen- 
derson being appointed principal manager of the firm in 188S, they built a 
quarter furnace. In digging for the foundation they came to a rich ore bed 
and the old ruins are j'et standing upon the ore bed. This furnace proved 
a success. Previous to this, however, in 1837, they built a puddling furnace 
and did a large amount of labor in all needful branches prepared expressly for 
making bar iron. At and a little before this time they made roads to Schroon 
river by way of the branch, their iron being hauled thirty six to forty miles to 
Lake Champlain. Mr. Henderson made large experiments with the iron to 
convert it into steel. In the iron he found a good steel property, his experi- 
ments proving so successful that they concluded to make preparations for the 
manufacture of steel. Mr. Henderson then made a trip to England expressly 
for the purpose of consulting and making arrangements with some person who 
understood steel making, and going direct to the great Shefiield Steel and Cut 
lery works made his wants known to one of the principal foremen of the 
Sheffield company, named Pixley. Mr. Henderson informed him that he de- 
sired to manufacture steel in America, having a good iron for the purpose 
located in a dense wilderness and surrounded with an abmulance of wood, and 
that his company wanted to establish a steel and cutlery works for the manu- 
facture of large and small articles. He also stated to Mr. Pixley that they 
wanted to make steel with charcoal, but this being a" new theory to Mr. Pixley 
he replied that it would be new to him, but he would make experiments an^ 
report to him. ]\Ir Henderson left Shefiield feeling much elated over his suc- 
cess in enlisting ]Mr. Pixley in the scheme and immediately returned to Ameri- 

4 



ca to await the result of Mr. Pixley's experiments. After several months had 
expired Mr. Pixley wrote to Mr. Henderson that he had made the exi)eriment.s 
with charcoal and found them successful. After this favorable report the Adi- 
rondack company concluded to make all needed arrangements for establishing 
an extensive cutlery works in the Adirond-acks. They went directly to work 
and built a costly dam across the Hudson river, ten miles below their iron 
Avorks, which they named Tahawus, after one of the great mountains. This 
was to be called the Tahawus Steel and Cutlery works. In the meantime they 
built a large boarding house while working upon the dam, previously they had 
constructed a log boarding house. They built a saw mill and dock for landing 
their iron from the upper works immediately. The two places were called the 
upper and lower works ;uid go by these names. The dam flowed the water in 
Lake Sanford and raised the lake four feet, covering a level tract of land for 
the space of tive miles before reaching the lake This gave it an increase of 
additional water. The length of the lake is about four miles. By this dam 
the company were enabled to use boats. They built boats, floated iron to 
their lower dock from the upper dock and wood and coal from the lower dock, 
to be used in their blast and puddling furnaces, Mr. Pixley came to America, 
landing at Jersey City, and he and Mr. Henderson made a trip to the Adiron- 
dack iron works and contemplated steel works. Mr. Pixley gave plans for all 
necessary buildings to carr}^ on the operations successfully, and the plans 
were duly made. Mr. Pixley, after the accomplishment of this much of the 
work, returned to England and three or four months later he wrote to Mr. 
Henderson saying that he had devoted tiis time to making further experiments 
with charcoal and had arrived at the conclusion that he could not make steel 
with charcoal, and therefore abandoned the project. This caused a stoppage 
of further operations at Tahawus and notwithstanding a dam, boarding house, 
dock and large store house were built or in process of construction, the whole steel 
project came to a termination. Mr. Henderson said that the Shettield company 
had or must have made arrangements with Mr. Pixley not to come to America and 
establish steel works; this was his supposition of Mr. Pixley's sudden change 
of mind. The Adirondack Iron company still continued building and enlarg- 
ing their old works and erected various buildings until they had a small vil- 
lage, which is now known as the "deserted village." The Adirondack rail- 
road derived its name from this company, whence springs so many names of 
Adirondack. They kept building and improving until 1843. In this year 
they required more water in dry weather to propel their machinery, and as 
there v^rere two branches of the Hudson the company determined to build a dam 
and divert the east branch into the west branch. They continued, however, 
with a short supply of water until September, 1845, when their engineer, Dan- 
iel Taylor, witli whom they had discussed the practicability of the idea, ad- 
vised them to put the scheme into execution. A part}' was formed consisting 
of Messrs. Henderson and Taylor, Anthony Snyder, John Cheaney and a ten- 
year-old son of Mr. Henderson, to search for a course to lead the water to their 
works, and as they expected to camp out over night they carried knapsacks. 
The distance between the two streams upon their route was six miles, and 
about half way of this distance there was a small pond called the duck hole. 
When the little party came in full view of it they discovered a number of 
ducks in it, whereupon Mr. Henderson remarked to John Cheany: "You take 
ray pistol and kill some of those ducks," and he handed his pistol to Cheany. 



Tlie balance of the party had gone to the head of the pond to start a fire pre" 
paratory for dinner. John Cheany had advanced but a few yards upon the 
ducks when they discovered his approach and tlew out of range, and Mr. 
Cheany then stepped up to Mr. Henderson and returned the pistol which Mr. 
Henderson replaced in its sheath. Mr. Chean}^ knowing there was an abund- 
ance of trout in the pond, concluded not to follow up the ducks but catch some 
of the gamey fish, and preparing hook and line he found a pole where he had 
cauglitliundreds of trout before. He had just dropped the hook in the water 
when he heard the report of a pistol, and looking in that direction he saw the 
party had arrived at tlie head of the pond and also saw that Mr. Henderson 
was in a stooping posture and that Messrs. Taylor and Sn3^der, who had been 
in the vicinity athering wood for the dinner fire, were at his side. Mr. 
Cheany knew Mr. Henderson was shot by the movement he made, and he ran 
to him as fast as possible. Upon arriving at Mr. Henderson's side the fallen 
man turned his eyes to him and said: "John, you must have left the pistol 
cocked." Mr. Cheany could make no reply, not knowing but that might have 
been the case. Mr. Henderson .ooked around and said: "This is a horrible 
place for a man to die," and then calling his son to him he gently said, "Ar- 
chie, be a good boy and give my love to your mother." This was all he said, 
although his lips kept moving for a few minutes as if in prayer, and at the end 
of fifteen minutes from the time of being shot he expired. The theory of the 
cause of the accident is as follows: Mr. Henderson, it is supposed, took off his 
knapsack and laid it on a rock and then unbuckled his belt at the same time 
taking hold of the muzzle of the pistol, and in laying it down on the rock he 
must have struck the rock with the hammer which caused the discharge of 
the weapon, and as the muzzle was pointing tow^ards him the ball entered his 
abdomen just below the navel, causing the fatal wound. The ball in its pass- 
age made three holes through his shirt, which w^as in folds. The party set to 
work to make a couch for the body, breaking balsam boughs and laying them 
in a pile, and on this bed the lifeless remains were placed. This done, Mr. 
Snyder returned to the village for help and lights, knowing that by the time 
he returned it would be dark. The b dance of the part}^ remained with the 
body. Upon his arrival in tiie village Mr. Snyder was very cautious in stating 
his errand, and picked his men judiciously, ordering them to prepare 
themselves with lanterns, axes and tools to construct a bier to carry the 
remains to the village. He also set men to work cutting out 
trees and bushes to make a way for the corpse to be conveyed to 
the village, there being but a narrow trail then, and the trail made by Mr. 
Snyder is now used by tourists on their way to Mt. Marcy. The singularity 
of a, body of men passing along ti e street witli lighted lanterns in the day time 
and carrying axes and other tools, naturally caused quite a sensation, and the 
news of the accident soon spread, and it was soon known by the company's 
principal manager, Mr. Andrew Porteous, now of Luzerne, Warren county, 
N. y. Mrs. Henderson, Maggie, little Archie and a nephew named David 
Henderson, were in the village at the time, and Mrs. Henderson, accompanied 
by her daughter IMaggie and Mrs. Porteous, made her way into the street to 
ascertain the cause of the commotion. Seeing Michael Laverty, the women 
caught hold of him and insisted upon his telling them the cause of the un- 
usual proceeding, but the man was not disposed to give them any information 
and evaded a direct answer, whereupon they laid hands upon him'and told him 

6 



they would not let him go until he told them. He then admitted that he be- 
lieved that some of the men were hurt in the woods, and Maggie immediately 
burst outcrying, "Pa is shot, pa is shot." Woman's instinct divined the 
mystery which the men had been directed to preserve towards the women, 
and they knew it was Mr. Henderson who had been shot, for if it had been 
any other in the part}^ secrecy would not have been observed. When some 
of the men arrived at the scene of the sad accident, they set to work pre- 
paring a bier to lay the remains upon, while others made the path wider, so 
that the transference of the corpse could be accomplisiied with greater ease. 
Early in the morning the other party bringing the remains, arrived at the vil- 
lage and men were set to work building a rude coffin. These men were 
Spencer Eggerton, of Moriah, and the writer of this article, and as the 
weather was very warm speedy despatch was required to hasten the remains 
to Jersey City > ef ore decomposition set in. A despatch was sent to Russell 
Root, of Root's Center, Schroon river, requesting him to meet the party in 
charge of the corpse at Mr. Wise's shanty on the c^.rtage road. The- cartage 
road being in course of construction the remains were conveyed by team from 
the village to Tahawus, where they were taken from this point upon the 
shoulders of men to strike the cartage road. This occupied all day as the 
party were obliged to move slowly upon a winter road trail, and Mr. Wise's 
shanty was not reached until daybreak, wdiere Root was waiting to conduct 
the party to Lake Champlain to take the steamboat. The last carry w^as ten 
miles. The relatives of the deceased immediately proceeded to Jersey City, 
to make the funeral arrangements and despatches w^ere sent to friends. Mr. 
Henderson's death was a sad blow to the Adirondack Iron company, as he was 
their most influential man and he was also greatly missed by all classes who 
had learned to love him, and for a few days all work w^as suspended in the 
village. After Mr. Pixley's failure to come and make steel, Mr. Henderson- 
engaged in conversation with Joseph Dixon, avIio was knowm in late years as 
Graphite Dixon, from his being interested in the graphite works in Ticonder- 
oga. In their conversation Mr. Henderson stated the circumstances of their 
disappointment in Mr. Pixley, wdiereupon Mr. Dixon told Mr. Henderson 
that he could make steel, to wiiicli Mr. Henderson replied, "If you can make 
steel you had better go to work." "I have no means to use for that purpose," 
w^as Mr. Dixon's rejoinder. "If you are sure you can make steel," said 
Mr. Henderson, "you may go to work for us and 3'ou may have all the money 
3"ou w^ant and all the men you w^ant and all necessary materials you want." Mr. 
Dixon resolved to accept the offer and go to work. He commenced in the outskirts 
of Jersey City and built a rude cementing furnace and thi=^, being an ex- 
periment, was upon a small scale. He put his iron bars in the furnace leaving 
a place to extract a bar as the steel process progressed. This was done by 
building the furnace as high as the length of the bars required and within the 
furnace was a compartment so constructed as to allows the heat to surround it. 
This compartment w^as filled with charcoal and good common-bar iron and 
below w\as a fire whose intense heat ignited the charcoal which burned in a 
perpendicular trunk with ore. This cemented the bar into blister steel, the 
charcoal carbonizing the iron. As this was successful the next step further 
was to build a melting furnace for the steel, but Mr. Dixon was somewhat 
puzzled to devise the correct plan, but finally he arranged it and commenced 
to build. He built his fire pit, got the blast all ready, broke up the blister 



stcd and put it into the crucibles, kindled Iiis fires, melted the steel, made his 
moulds and poured in the steel, all of which were successful, except pour- 
in 2: the steel in tlat moulds, for when he put the iron under the hammer he 
found Haws and lono; seams in his cast steel. This he thought he could ob- 
viate by pouring the steel in the moulds endwise which would ctiuse the air to 
ascend in the moulds as fast as they tilled. The process was a revelation to 
the American people. Mr. Dixon having succeeded in casting steel into 
coarse bars set about erecting suitable hammers for working the steel into 
small bars. Mr. Henderson about the tmie went to England and proceeding 
\o Sheffield, he procured a tilter. How he ever induced him to come to 
America ^Slr. Henderson never told, but it w^as probably the large sum of 
money given the man that had the effect. With this Englishman's advice 
they were able to build a tilting hammer and other necessary apparatus and 
the steel manufactured with their improvements was of a good quality. This 
was the tirst cast steel plant in xVmerica. After the Sheffield man was intro- 
duced in America it was an easy matter to get more experienced men and the 
works were extensively enlarged and the business was very successful. This 
elated Mr Henderson, as he saw he had accomplished what he had striven 
for. Alter a few years they required an expert clerk, whom they found 
in James K. Thompson, who at the time w'as clerk at the iron w^orks. Mr, 
Thompson was young and possessed good intellect and was quick to learn, 
and after assisting Mr. Dixon a few^ years in the steel w^orks he became mana- 
ger of the w^orks. At this waiting Mr. Thompson is making steel under the 
tirm of J, R, Thompson & Co. David Henderson in his earlier days w^as en- 
gaged in the pottery business in Jersey City and his associate in that enterprise 
was ]\Ir. Gregory, of the same place. Mr. Henderson, however, withdrew 
from (he pottery business after engaging in the iron and steel experiments. 
He married a daughter of Archibald Mclntyre, of Albany, and they had three 
cliildren, two of them girls, one Maggie, the other I never knew. The soa 
was Archie already mentioned. Maggie married George Gregory, of Jersey 
City, Slie only survived her father a few years. Mrs. Henderson died broken 
hearted a few years after her husbands demise, Archie lived to be a young 
married man, but died a few years after. The other daughter, it is said, has 
also passed away, thus none of the family remain. Mr. Henderson was a 
scientific man of more than ordinary attainments and was not only one of the 
best financiers but was very accomplished and agreeable. He w^as' always very 
plea.sant with his men and as he was an excellent violinist he often played 
while his men indulged in a little dance. This manifestation of interest in 
them won their friendship and his name will be revered by them as long as 
life lasts. The dav of the calamity still seems fresh with many. It was a day 
of great mourning in the wilderness and it will be a lon^ time before such a day 
of mourning will again take place in the Adirondacks. Had Mr. Henderson lived, 
in all probability, the Adirondacks would have flourished with iron and steel 
works second to none on this continent. His whole energy was in that direc- 
tion. He remarked to the writer one day: "I have tested our iron ore for 
steel and find it is adapted for it.' He knew there were millions of money 
undeveloped in those mountains of ore, and wiien mountains are mentioned 
here it is meant so in every sense of the word. Archibald Mclntyre in his 
early days located in the city of Albany, where he lived and reared a family. 
For a number of years he was comptroller of the state of New York. At 



that time there arose a controversy between Mr. Mclntj'-re and a man by tlie 
name of Fox. Charges were brought against Mr. Mclntyre and a long dis 
pnte ensued, which was published in pamphlet form, and' it resulted in victory 
for Mr. Mclntyre, who refuted all the charges. This was very satisfactory to 
the people of the state, as he being a wealthy man wielded a large influence. 
He carried on a lottery and Mr. Henderson was associated with him. In 
the last year when lotteries were permitted in the state, Mr. Mclntyre offered 
the state |50,000 for the privilege of conducting the lottery one year longer 
after the state had put a stop to them It was reported that they car- 
ried lotteries into other states and this may have been one of their sources of 
wealth. . Mr. Mclntyre survived Mr. Henderson seven or eight years. 

Mr. Archibald Robinson, who was located at Philadelphia, was extensively 
engaged in mercantile business and was a leading and controling merchant, 
and possessed of large wealth. Mr. Robinson said the Adirondack works had 
always been a financial draft upon them, but it never seemed to lessen their 
wealth. Mr. Robinson died a few years ago. In former years when in full 
blast, J. R. Thompson was clerk under Mr. Porteous, thegreat manager, and 
after J. Thompson, went to Jersey City, Robert Clark, of Cincinnati, was 
clerk. He remained a few years and returned home. Next and last was 
Alexander Ralph, now of Pottsdam, he being chief manager after Mr. Por- 
teous left. J. R, Thompson was the original clerk under A. Porteous. He 
was a 3^oung man at this time and made the little valley ring with his Scotch 
songs, and the laborers after their days work would collect around him and 
urge upon him the expansion of his lungs. When once started it was so easy 
for him he would amuse them with songs late in the evening. J. R. Thomp- 
son, Robert Clark and Alexander Ralph, were nephews • of the company. 
After Mr. Porteous the company employed Mr. Ralph and assigned the entire 
charge of the works to him until the death of Mr. Robinson, when all work 
ceased. Before the death of the two last named gentlemen they sold the en- 
tire property to what was called the Curtis company, conditionally for five 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The new company paid eighty thousand 
dollars down and took possession. This was at the time the large new fur- 
nace was completed. The new firm agreed to pay a further sum at a specified 
time, if they failed to comply with the terms, and the contract to be rescinded, 
the old company retaining power to seize all iron made by said new firm upon 
the premises and upon its way to market. The new cornpany failed. Their 
outside manager was Benjamin Butler, of Luzerne. As soon as the second in- 
stallment became due, the old compan}" assumed control again. The laborers 
under the new company having trouble in getting their pay, Messrs ^Iclntyre 
and Robinson ordered their agent, A. Ralph, to ascertain the amount due the 
laborers, and pay them seventy-five c nts on the dollar. This being done the 
men kept on working. I will speak of the bank located in the heart of the 
Adirondacks. When in full blast the outlay of the company was so great 
they concluded to establish a bank, which being done they named it the Mc- 
lntyre bank, with bills redeemable at Albany. They built a suiall banking 
house and stocked it with the bills. The bank created a large circulation of 
money, as there were in their employment in those years three or four hun- 
dred men. This number of men made a large circulation of the bills in every 
direction, from Albany to Canada, from the Adirondacks to all the cities. 
The bank was kept up but a few years and called in all of its bills and re- 



deemed them. The Essex county assessors assessed the bank so high that 
'Mr. Mclntyre conckided it was cheaper to do their banking at Albany, and 
avoid the enormous assessment imposed upon them. And right here a word 
to assessois. Do not be too avaricious and step too far with companies by way 
of extortion, a judicious assessment is always recommended. In this case it 
proved to be a detriment to Essex county and its tax-payers. In their early 
days they did a small amount of business through Joseph Frost, of Breadport, 
Vt. Tlieir principal, A. Porteous, had a chief order dispatcher in the person 
of Peter Daugherty, of the town of Minerva. Peter was often detailed to 
run, even at short notices, and a large share of the time was upon foot, as in 
this early stage of their business roads were in bad condition. Peter was in 
the habit of having frequent calls by night as well as by day. A cortipanion 
accompanied him one time part of the way over the Boreas mountain. He 
had orders to go to Port Henry and started about three or four o'clock in the 
afternoon upon his mission, going by the way of the old state road that went 
through the wilderness from Cedar Point to Carthage. He went by way of 
Israel Johnson's, who resided then at Clear Pond upon this road. Darkness 
overtook Peter as he was ascending the Boreas mountain and the road ran 
over an arm of the mountain. All of a sudden he was startled by a sharp 
shrill sound, so shrill that he was frightened, not knowing what animal it 
might be, and he thought of returning, but the thought struck him that re- 
turning was as hazardous as to continue, so he made a halt for reflection. To 
his surprise he realized that he had neither gun, knife or matches. His first 
inipulse had been to start a fire, but this being a failure he concluded to con- 
tinue upon his journey. He now heard footsteps to his right very near the 
road, now in front of him, now in the rear, now upon the opposite side, then 
another screech, this being so near him as to cause his hair to stand erect. 
Not knowing what to do, Peter concluded to expand his lungs by screeching 
as loud as he could, thinking it might intimidate the animal which by this 
time he had learned was a panther which would like to make his acquaint- 
ance. The thought of a panther then and there in the night and no relief, 
impelled him to continue his journey, and encounter what might happen. 
There came another frightful screech as if calling for help, and another 
screech from Peter with well filled lungs, with his hand up to his head to 
push his hat down to keep it from falling off, as his hair was uplifted. The 
panther still kept him company and Peter heard him upon one side, then in 
front keeping this up continually, and so near he could hear the leaves and 
little twigs break under the bea^st's feet. Again came the screech from the 
panther followed by Mr. Daugherty, as usual, and their companionship lasted 
until they descended the mountain. Finally the animal's footsteps could not 
be heard, as there was nothing to indicate his absence, only an occasional 
screech in the distance and Mr. Daugherty's hat assumed its wonted position. 
Mr. Daugherty is a person not easily frightened but he made his way with quick 
steps for Mr. Johnson's and put up for the night. Mr. Johnson had cleared 
laud and had built a sawmill, it being a convenient place for the company and 
their men to camp. Mr. Daugherty has often spoken of his fright, with his 
night companion in the Adirondacks. I have mentioned John Cheany, as one 
of the party who were at the death of Mr. Henderson. John was their guide 
and was a great favorite of the company, always ready with dog, gun and fish- 
ing rod and he was styled the "mighty hunter," on account of liis success in 

10 



the capture of deer and trout. John was loved and esteemed by all. The 
company paid his board by the year, when he was not at their boarding 
house. In those days deer and trout could be caught in abundance and John 
was the principal guide, and if parties intended to visit any of the mountains 
John was the man chosen for guide, being acquainted witli all the high 
mountains. The company thought .so much of him they made him a donation 
of a farm, about one mile from Tahawus, upon the road leading from Adiron- 
datk to Schroon river. Here he built a house and married Lucina Bissell, 
of Newcomb, reared a family of two sons and died a few years since. At 
the yearly arrival of the company, they usually brought a minister and doc- 
tor with them from the city. Mr. Henderson usually brought 3Ir. Johns, of 
Jersey City, with him and he gave them a sermon every Sabbath, but there 
was not much call for doctors, as the place was a healthy one and the air very 
bracing among the Adirondacks. Mr. Mclnryre usually had his family physi- 
cian, named McNorton, go up to the mountains with him. Mr. McNorton 
married Mr. Mclntyre's daughter and was located at Albany. He is now 
dead. I recollect at one of their visits to this place they had a call for a doc- 
tor. 

The company reared a bull from a calf and he was annoyed by the men. 
who plagued him at times. When three years old he would turn aside with 
reluctance for any person. There were three men raising ore at the river bed 
— a father and two sons. The father's name was Alexander Thompson, the 
eldest son's name Andrew and the youngest Alexander. Andrew had occa- 
sion one day to go down to the blacksmith shop for repairs upon his drills, and 
after the repairs he was on his return to the mine. VV'hen near the mine he 
met the bull, and the bull did not care to leave the road. Andrew went for 
him with the drill, and this caused the bull to show fight. Andrew thought he 
could frighten him, but this he could not accomplish and the bull made for 
him. Andrew was compelled to retreat with the bull following and Andrew 
swinging the drill was compelled to drop all the tools he had and use one drill to 
the best advantage he could, and all the while on the retreat by backing up. 
By this time he had backed up to a stump and sprang behind it, the bull fol- 
lowing him around the stump. This point was opposite the bed. The bull 
made a desperate drive for him and struck liim with one of his horns in his 
rear and planted one horn into him, throwing him up in the air. This caused 
Andrew to plunge for a small perpendicular rock caused by blasting ore, some 
fifteen feet high. His father and brother saw what was going on and met the 
bull as he made his way around the ledge upon a keen run to meet Andrew. 
Father and brother pelted the animal with chunks of ore, but to no purix)se, 
and they could not turn him. Andrew ran for the river, where there was a 
large pile of tloodwood that had been accumulating for years. He made for 
this and succeeded in getting upon the pile before the bull could reach him. 
The bull had followed him to the brink of the river and dare not make the 
leap Andrew had, and he exhibited his disappointment by bellowing and 
started on a full run, which attracted the attention of father and brother. Af- 
ter they saw that Andrew was safe Alexander ran down to the village for help, 
and procuring several men they went back and drove the bull away. I went 
to the floodwood and helped the wounded man down. He Avas conducted to 
the boarding house and the doctors were summoned. Doctors McNorton and 
James Mclntyre, son of Archibald. They dressed his wound and in a few 

11 



months Andrew was able to resume work. [I can call to mind a Dr. Good- 
ale who was located in the village in after years and kept school and attended 
sick calls when such occurred.] This was the first gladitorial exhibition in all 
the Adirondacks, but it was not witnessed by so many spectators as at the coli- 
seum in Rome when a prisoner was condemned to death. Andrew for a time 
was a prisoner by the two horned animal. In connection with this circum- 
stance I will mention an incident that took place early one Monday morning, 
about breakfast time. Some time previous to this morning the boys got to brag- 
ging of superior strength. There was a large force of Irish and French laborers 
in tlie business and this bragging was indulged in on Sunday and the challenge 
given for Monday morning. Monday morning came and the French cham- 
pion arrived earl3\ He was a good sized man, heavily built and of good mus- 
cular development. The champion on the opposite side was an Irishman, 
named Henry Pratt. A ring was formed in the street and both contestants 
were willing and sure of success. George Bibby, of the town of Chester, War- 
ren county, was selected as referee. No intruders dare to approach inside the 
circle and good order was preserved. The bout opened with sparring and 
continued for a few rounds, but no scientific work was exhibited. They 
seemed bent upon taking advantage of each other and were wary. Pratt saw 
his opportunity and getting his antagonist down a few blows followed and the 
Frenchman gave up. This contest aroused Andrew Porteous from his morn- 
ing slumbers and he made his appearance in the street and dispersed the crowd. 
This little battle ended all ditficulty between the two factions. Andrew Por 
teous was general manager for this company twelve or fourteen years, and 
was a very successful manager. The company had implicit confidence in his 
ability to handle their money and he did all their banking business while the 
bank remained in the Adirondacks. It may surprise tourists w^hen visiting the 
Adirondack wilderness to learn that there once existed a bank where the de- 
serted village now is. Seven years since I visited the village and everything 
was in a dilapidated condition in the bank. The floor had fallen in, and no 
desk or counter was there where hundreds of thousands of dollars had passed 
over to the bank's patrons. James R. Thompson has a club formed, called 
the Adirondack club. They have repaired two of the old buildings. They 
make this their summer resort and have established private fishing ponds. 
Mr. Thompson has personal control of this vast estate. The club has estab- 
lished a fish hatchery here where they hatch millions of trout for their fish 
preserves and occasionally they give passes to some of their friends who wish 
to catcli trout. These passes are presented to Myron Buttles, who now is 
superintendent for J. R. Thompson and the club. Three or four years since 
the club introduced three moose from Maine into the Adirondacks and built a 
park of cedar logs, expressly for the purpose of raising moose, but the animals 
did not do well and died. The close confinement did not agree with them. 
David Hunter, who lives at Tahawus, has charge of this portion of the old 
property. He also keeps the postofiice at this place, wiiere all mail stops for 
the deserted village. J. R. Thompson has sold the standing timber upon 
Township forty-seven to Messrs. Finch, Pruyn & Co., of Glens Falls, who 
are now cutting oif all valuable lumber and floating it down the river to Glens 
Falls, where they have extensive saw mills. 

From the deserted village you travel by way of Calamity pond to Avalanch 
lake, thence up the Opal stream to the foot of Mt. Marcy, wiiich is the father 

12 



of the Adirondacks. Looking from this point your eyes take all the minor 
mountains in and it is like taking wax balls of different si7.es and standmg at 
a slight distance throwing tliem against a large one, all around, one above an- 
other and you then have a fac-simile of the Adirondacks Some ot the promi- 
nent ones are as follows: First is Mt. Santinony, a mountain live miles long, 
but not as high as some others ; Mt. Mclntyre, named after Mr. Mclntyre; Mt. 
Saddledack, Mt. Boreas, Mt. Allayn, Mt. Bason, Mt. Redfield, m Skylight, 
Mt Elk Woolf-paw mountain. Then there are the Boreas, the North river, 
and the Keene ranges. These mountains have large water sheds at their bases 
and in the spring of the year the streams are very much swollen, which gives 
plenty of water "for lumbermen to tloat their logs down the Hudson. ^ _ 

At the time the state located our prison at Clinton we had a commissioner 
apiwinted to look at the two locations. He came to the Adirondack works 
looked over the property and examined the quality of the ore. This was all 
satisfactory to his mind, but the distance to get the iron to market was the 
o-reat obstacle in the way, for about forty-eight or fifty miles to haul iron upon 
wagons was too much of an expense. He was of the opinion tnat some day 
the state would need this property, but at the present time he must recommend 
Clinton as it was a shorter distance to market. Now that we need more room 
for our prisoners and larger fields of ore, the state would be very much bene- 
fitted bv utilizing this place as a basis of operations. The state is coming into 
possession of a large proportion of the Adirondacks by reason of non-payment 
of taxes and as we become owners of land in the immediate surroundings ot 
the des-'rted village, it being the wishes of a large proportion of the inhabitants 
of the state to become owners of this valuable property, here we could Mve 
iron, steel and cutlery works elected as contemplated, by the late David Hen- 
derson The ore has been tested for steel and has proven to be all txiat is re- 
Quired' I have refined hundreds of tons of this iron and have found it good. 
The Adirondack Iron company have had razors made from this ore, also 
knives and other edge tools. John Daugherty, of Minerva was sent to New 
York citv and had s^ome of the steel made into razors and they bore a remark- 
able edge. This was after the death of Mr. Henderson. A. Porteaus, who 
was manager at the time, caused this experiment of edge tools to be made, 
and various edge tools were made at their works by their blacksmiths. Sam- 
uel Sanders, now of Schroon Lake, make various edge tools while at work lor 
the company, he being an expert workman. I have settled this theory m my 
mind several years ago, and I came to the conclusion when our commissioner 
made his report in favor of Clinton, we, as a people of the siate, had made a 
o-reat mistake. I would recommend a renewal of the examination and locate 
where the state can control a wealth of millions of dollars, now undeve oped 1 he 
distance now from railroad is only thirty-seven miles, at a point called .North 
Creek to the old works. The state could build a branch road from this point 
up the Hudson to the deserted village. I desire to call the ^Jt^ntion ot our 
legislators to this most important subject, and establish works that ^vill be 
ea\ial to the Sheffield works and name it Adirondack Prison works. I hcie is 
no necessity now of going to England for l^^^orer.s to manufacture slee as w^^ 
have our own workmen who can perform its required duties. A few h^ndre I 
thousand dollars expended would put the state in possession of miUions ot clol- 
^in return. Let us consider the subject and see if the state cannot^ come 
into possession of the Adirondacks, a name that is on the lips of all touiist:, 

13 



who travel in the wilderness. There would be great rejoicing if the state 
gamed p ossession of this property by all persons knowing its value. Mcy^^ 
Q'ordeani , of Troy, made experiments with a small vein in Minerva, but failed 
to lind any quantity of ore and abandoned the operation. This was a small 
out-cropping of the Adirondack ore drifted in this direction. It is always re- 
markable that the old pioneers never reap any reward for their toil— so with 
the Adirondack company. The great engineers in the infancy of their work 
had to leave their associates to struggle for but a short period, and they, too, 
followed in a short space of time soon to be forgotten. 

Where Mr. Henderson fell a large monument has been erected to his mem- 
ory, and this monument will stand as long as the Adirondacks. It was erected 
at a large expense and is very durable. I might relate a good many incidents 
m connection with the history of the old Adirondack Iron companv and their 
mode of operation, but it would not interest many w^ho are not acquainted 
with the business or its location and value. Who can comprehend this great 
force of mind so often hid and then developed by stirring energy such as I 
have described concerning the three pioneers who toiled to develop the great 
ore beds. This was food for deep reflection for Mr. Henderson, who, realiz- 
ing the extent of the work before him, expected by great energy to accom- 
plish a great result, Alas ! too soon was he required to give up his great 
work by his untimelv death at Calamity pond, and not a male heir was there 
among the proprietors' sons to step forward and prosecute the undertaking so 
auspiciously begun by those enterprising men. 



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